New Kristen Interview with Huffington Post

Kristen Stewart was not a global superstar when "Motorcycle Diaries" director Walter Salles cast her in his long-gestating adaptation of "On the Road." It was 2007 and she had just appeared in "Into the Wild," playing a trailer-park siren who almost but doesn't quite tame Emile Hirsch's wanderlust. It would be another year before she become known to millions of fans around the world as Bella Swan from "Twilight."

It would have been easy -- and maybe even prudent -- for Stewart to back out on Salles as her star inexorably rose, but she stayed on board and delivered a performance that is all the more powerful because it comes from a woman with so much to lose. Yes, Kristen takes off her clothes -- she talks about that below -- but that's not the half of it: her character, Marylou, the teenage bride of Beatnik hero Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), may exist as a mere plot device in the testosterone-fueled novel, but at the hands of Salles and Stewart she becomes a symbol of unapologetic feminine self-gratification. As I wrote after seeing "On the Road" at the Toronto International Film Festival, "Stewart's Marylou is pure Id: she steals what she needs and she screws who she wants, when she wants." The point is not that she's admirable; it's that she comes alive, fully and indelibly, which is the only job an actor has.

The creative team behind the film wants the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize Stewart for her role by nominating her for an Oscar for best supporting actress, and although she doesn't appear on any of the short lists I've seen, I think she's earned a place in the conversation. "On the Road" has its slow and meandering moments, but it roars to life when Stewart appears on screen -- and if you don't believe me, take a look at these fan-produced animated gifs and tell me you're not at least intrigued. Stewart and I spoke on the phone for about 20 minutes on Saturday/

Michael Hogan: I remember reading On the Road as a teenager, and the women didn't register for me so much as characters. So I wonder, as a teenage girl reading it, how the women seemed to you when you first read the book?
Kristen Stewart: Yeah, it's funny, they didn't really register with me, either. People do love to say that this is a boy book and that the female characters tend to be treated as play things and are peripheral. When you read the book, they tend to seem as though they're almost like a tool for Kerouac to show that life's crazy, that things are wild and sexy. That's why, playing the part, we were privy to information that made this thing so different. I think getting to know the women behind the characters and getting to know Jack's relationships with them and Neal's relationships with them, it made it easier to play the character.Did you meet LuAnne Henderson, whom your character, Marylou, is based on?
She had passed away, like, right before we started. But I met her daughter and there were hours and hours of tapes where she recalled her life in great detail, and very much within that time frame as well. When I first read the book -- I have brothers, and so I always felt like there wasn't a huge distinction. I kinda wanted to be one of the boys for a while, and in some cases still do, and I think there are a lot of girls who read "On the Road" who feel [that way]. I wasn't aware then that the females weren't at the forefront of the story. I was just so into the main characters, I was so enamored by them, I wanted to meet people in my life that were going to shock me and pull something out of me that I didn't expect --

Marylou's a little bit that way too, isn't she?
Oh, definitely. She was such a formidable partner for Neal [Cassady, the real-life inspiration for the book's Dean Moriarty]. Men, especially, love to identify with me and go, "Well, you know, it's kind of a misogynistic viewpoint. The book has a fairly chauvinist feel to it. How do you feel about that?'

Kind of like my first question.
No, no, no. Not at all. That was actually really different. Because their thing is, 'Oh, how could they have allowed all those terrible things to happen to them?' It's like, What makes you think that they were not absolute equal partners in that? What makes you think that they were taken from more than they gave, or more than they got back from the men that were apparently taking from them. I feel like getting to know LuAnne and who she was, and why she did the things that she did, and how she felt about them afterward, there was no thievery going on. She loved his life so much that she didn't want to deprive him of any of that life, and he felt the same about her, and she very, very much carved her own path.

What was the most surprising thing that you learned when you were talking to these folks and listening to the tapes?
I think the most surprising thing for me, given the way [Marylou's] storyline ends in the book and in the movie, was that [LuAnne and Neal] maintained their relationship in some capacity until his death. He could never stop going back to her. And that for me kind of was like the key. She wasn't leaving him. It was just this sliver of life that you see that's not expounded upon because it's not her story. Like, there's an entire "On the Road" for every single one of those characters. It's just that who you follow is Sal and Dean. [Sal Paradise is the fictional stand-in for author Jack Kerouac.]

Obviously, you're really asked to go places in this role. After I saw "On the Road" in Toronto, I wrote an analysis of it, and one of the things I focused on is that you're committing to the role to an admirable degree, with nudity, with sleeping with two men at the same time, with all this other stuff, and some people attacked me, saying, "Just because she takes off her clothes, you think that's real art?" But what I meant is that it's an actor's job to do the role she's given without holding back. Can you help me defend myself a bit here?
[Laughs.] Actresses love to stand up and say, after they've shown their tits in a movie, that it was done tastefully and that it was, you know, far from gratuitous. I mean, projects that really require it are really few and far between. And I think that in this case, it needed to be. This book celebrates being alive and it celebrates being human, and if you want to cover up and deny any aspect of that, you are denying the spirit of the book. I think that it would have been so wrong to shy away from anything in this movie. I think that I would have gotten flak for that. I think that it would have been that I was scared to disappoint my "Twilight" fans or something.

And I do hate also when people go, "Oh, wow, great performance. So brave." Oh, because I'm naked? That's very annoying. But at the same time, if that's what they're focusing on, then "On the Road" probably isn't for them anyway. Also, I understand when people are already successful, you try to control some perception or you try to choose parts based on some expectation of what people are going to think. You're clearly doing things because you want to be in some position of power and fame, which is not why I do what I do. And people, anyone that consumes that is then obviously going to think that you must have some consideration for those types of things, like what people are going to think.

But how hard is it ignore those considerations when you really are one of the biggest celebrities in the world? I mean, there's no way around that.
It's really not that hard. I can't pragmatically approach anything in terms of my career. I need to be so rocked by something, so moved by something that the idea of letting it down or ruining it is painful, and that's what gets you through the shoot. You read material and it provokes you on some level, and the reason you make the movie is to find out why it made you feel all those things. Those things are so rare to find that if you start also considering what people are going to think, you'll never make a movie.

At the Toronto Film Festival, you took a full hour to come out and be with all your fans, and that was at a difficult time. How important was it for you to come out for the film and reconnect with your fans that day?
You should never step outside of your life and look at it like it's this malleable thing you can shape so that people view it a certain way. I would never not have gone to something like that. I've been working on this for five years. I love this movie. I'm so proud of everyone involved -- I feel so strong standing next to them. I was asked a few times whether I was going to do it or, "Oh, was it difficult for you? What made you stand up and do this?" It was like, why wouldn't I? It made so much sense to me. I mean, the only time I feel comfortable being on TV or doing any sort of public appearance or anything, it has to have context. I don't like just being a famous person, but with "On the Road" it's so clear why I'm there. With the fans and stuff, it's just human energy that you simply cannot deny. People are standing there and sort of screaming for you and I'm not about to turn my back and walk away and go get warm inside, you know what I mean? So I didn't plan anything. I just went to the opening of the movie and there were a bunch of people there and it was really nice to see them.

Have you heard from your "Twilight" fans about this movie yet?
I mean, not really. "Breaking Dawn 2" just came out and we carted that one around the world for a bit. And there were a bunch of people in the crowd in Europe -- because the movie's out already in Europe -- who said, "Oh, my god, 'On the Road, we loved it." Everyone likes to think that we just have teenage fans -- we have girls, women in general, it literally is every single age, well into peoples' 70s. So yeah, people were into it, I think.

What's your feeling about awards season and all the events and interviews it entails? Is it enjoyable? Is it a nightmare? Is it somewhere in between?
I love talking about this movie and everyone involved and the book and everything I've been through since the start of it. I would do anything to get the word out. The fact that it has something to do with the Academy, I simply personally can't acknowledge it in any way because it's a ridiculous notion to suddenly go, like, "Yep, I'm really gunning. I'm really gunning for it."

There's a rumor that you're going to star alongside Ben Affleck in a movie called "Focus."
I can confirm that rumor. It's a comedy, I'm really excited about it, we start shooting in April.

Are there any other projects on the horizon?
Not yet. I would love to find some microproject before then, because April is kind of a ways away, but not yet, haven't been "taken" yet.

If you are Kristen fans you would like or love anything that she's in. I love the fact that she don't care if ppl see it or not. Love it or hate it. She's not afraid to try different things and I love that. Kristen work with alot of big names long before Twilight. As for her relationship with Rob I hope they can make it and take the time together. My relationship with my kids father end because we didn't spend time together after 10 years together. Robsten need to take time for each other and for themself. And the fact that Rob is doing Three movies is alot. I hope he take a break in 2014. Work is good but your health and living is better. Kristen too. Robsten Forever!

Kristen is Kristen, she is not do something just to make another person happy,she knows clearly what she want now, she is ready for anything and her mistake is enough to make her more than just good person, she's smart,I hope her fans not love her just because of Robsten but love her as Kristen Jaymes Stewart

I agree, I am so happy she got this role! Some people on this websise can not even stomach that she is doing well, I can feel panic and and jealousy from them. Go Kristen, so happy for you and Congratulations on your new role :)

I love Kristen because of HER, about what SHE is and what she is not... about HER intelligence, her kindness, her talent and her beauty! No matter which man she'll choose to be her partner in life. While I have no doubt that they are together and she loves him, it's obvious, she looks at him with adoration, I love her because of her wonderful personality! I am happy for her and for her success! I just love her no matter what she does and how she dress herself.

Who are you talking about? The vast majority of people here are Kristen fans. You can see that in the amount of comments the individual posts receive. Usually posts that are only related to Kristen have at least but mostly more than twice the comments than Rob's ones.

Comments of obsessed Rob's fans who hate Kristen are really rare here and get usually deleted when they are too rude - thanks to Alma and her beautiful team.

Anon 9:27am I made that comment before Alma deleted that comment, you were not logged on yet, they were from Mae but Alma deleted them. So don't tell me not to complain if I see something wrong then I have write to say it.

Sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I had no idea that there were some rude comments and that you were referring to them. I mean you were reproving "some people" and not a specific commenter. Maybe it would be better to address those people individually to avoid any misunderstanding. <3

so happy for you Kristen! Working with good actors and assocaiated with great directors like Walter Salles, Francis Coppola and Gearge Lucas, OMG!! Wish you the best Kristen and you deserve to be happy!!

I think people should allow Kristen to do her job without linking it to Robert Pattinson.She is an actress doing her job(and doing it mighty well too),why this need to link it to her personal relationships which should be kept away from her professional life?Mae/all doubters/fake fans dont feel the need to comment when Rpatz signs a string of movies ,keeps himself occupied throughout the year,yet they want to give sage advice to Kristen on how to maintain relationships!!!What is she supposed to do?tag along with ROB TO WHEREVER HE WILL BE FILMING?They will be sick of each other within no time if that would be the scenario.Let them both grow.They are both young.Let me say one more thing there is so much more to Kristen Stewart than her relationship.She is a bright young actress with a fantastic future.

This is a ROBSTEN site. Please don't say Rob like its a dirty word and fans know that he doesn't like being referred to as Rpatz. I think Kristen and Rob are supportive and encouraging of each other and don't expect the other to follow them around and are also aware that they need to give the other space, as any normal couple needs it before, as you say, they get sick of each other. Although I do think they will now make more of an effort to be together when they can to maintain their relationship in light of what happened in the summer. They are both great actors with a bright and exciting future imo.

As stupidity doesn't heal, it seems like I must explain to anon 4:13AM what meant anon 11:40 PM :) he or she wanted to say it would be better to like Kristen because of her personality and her good qualities, not that she is or is not with Pattinson! ie to treat her as an individuality and not as part of Robert and that it's not bad to terminate the dirty hints that Pattinson has many projects in the future and Kristen not. I hope now everything is clear and anon 11:40 PM is not angry with me for the clarification!

I completely agree with you guys Kristen is an amazing strong, smart, kind spirited person and she deserves to be happy I'm proud of her. She's excited about her new role and there is nothing wrong with that she's happy. So what if she's promoting On The Road because it's a small movie have you heard Kristen speak about it she's proud of it, she's proud of herself because it was a stretch for her, she's proud of everyone involved and she is proud of the fact that she took the character of Mary-Lou and gave justice to Luann Henderson whom she seems to admire as a woman she loves the book she's said many times it's her favorite book and she was honored to take the part, she would have done anything for the part. As for her relationship with Rob they will be fine so what if Kristen is being recognized by the Hollywood Elite that won't change her, I'm proud of her I know many people are proud of Kristen she loves this business she loves what she does but Kristen sticks to her values and follows her heart she's not going to loose herself. Look at her and how she's coped with the Twilight and the phenomenon that it became Kristen is the same person she was 5 years ago and you know it she hasn't changed a bit, she just got older and a little more confident. What do you expect Kristen to do quit acting so she can follow Rob around and be his perfect housewife come on. Rob wouldn't want her to give up her acting he knows how much it means to her, he would want Kristen to do the best she can and love what she does, He wouldn't want Kristen to give up what she loves for him and he would never put her is a position that she would have to in fact I think Rob s very proud of her and he's proud of everything she's achieved just as she is proud of him. Rob wouldn't make Kristen do anything she doesn't want to do because he's not that kind of guy, he's not controlling and he's not going to tie her down and he wouldn't put her down ever. Rob wouldn't stop her doing anything and she wouldn't stop him from doing anything he loves her and she loves him and I don't need to remind anyone it's Kristen that pushes Rob to take parts he asks her opinion and he encourages her too. I'm sure Kristen would spend every second she can with Rob, she pays attention to him and their relationship and so does he they will be fine they are supportive of each other and we are all proud of Kristen

I'm loving some of your comments about Kristen! She is a star please let her shine this is about work not about her personal life. Some of you women are way into rob. That's Kristen man let it go! Let be happy for Kristen and her new movie so proud of you baby girl. We will be happy for rob next year when his movies come out. Keep your hate to yourself ladies and have a great day!

Wow. New project confirmed and we are worried about her and Rob!!!! Come on people! Show your excitement and let them worry about everything else. Don't you think they talk about these things before they sign on to their individual projects??????? Try probably read each others scripts too! Just breath fandom! Rob and Kristen always end up together!!!!

i'm such a worrry wart, but.. i'm a little iffy about focus. i think a smart, sexy comedy is a great next project. i think it'll allow ppl to see her in a different light and widen her audience to an older crowd, but i'm a little concerned about ben affleck. he's def made a name for himself as an a-list director, but this is his first solely acting gig in a while isn't it? and he's sort of known for making a lot of .. poor choices in acting. am i the only one who's thinking this?idk. i just want her to have a long and lenthy, sucessful career. i'm not trying to be a buzz kill. i hope it's a home run: commercial, yet well received by critics and shows her range and versatility. (i apologize profusely if my comment is upsetting to you!)

I agree with you. Ben Affleck is better behind the lens, not in front of the camera. I personally think he is a terrible actor. Someone like Ben Foster (Get Over it, he starred with Kirsten Dunst in that movie, a comedy, I thought he was great) or even Foster's co-star Shane West (the antagonist in Get Over it, he was pretty funny, too), or Joe Anderson (the guy who starred in Across the Universe with Rachel Evan Wood and as Allister in BD2), or a re-pairing with Jesse Eisenberg. All these actors would be so much better paired with Kristen. Not Ben Affleck, oh my god, I will predict this one failing at the box office.

This is a Rob and Kristen site, you Rob haters can go somewhere else! Rob and Kristen are actors, that 's what they do! I am sure they have discuss their shooting schedule . Work is fine, but not the most important thing. Rob loves Kristen with all his heart. He is her biggest supporter, he has proven that he loves her. Obviously some of you have never really loved some one.

It's not nonsense, I did read some derogatory comments about Rob. You stop telling other people what to express. I support both of them, this is Kristen's time and most people are supporting her including Rob.

The only thing that can truly animate me to stop to like Rob are such fans category that you are, Bear042960, to throw unsubstantiated accusations and wait quietly for the results! Rob is a very nice person and no one is saying the opposite. You are just bored and wanna quarrel here.

For those who are not familiar with Huffington Post. Huffington Post is a multi-million/billion worth of media websites. It is a VERY realiable source of information. I will take Huffington Post over any other media outlets, except may be for THR, when it comes to reporting regarding celebrities. They report on about everything and have links to the most prestigious newsmedia. - Laarni

I saw some articles regarding Kristen on Huffington Post a couple of months ago. The content were quite harsh like something from tabliod news. Actually the writers weren't friendly to Kristen at all. So I have doubt about this newpapers. Anyhow, I think this role is a good try for Kristen.

I just love how people can be so critical over something they know nothing about. Rob and Kristen aren't joined at the hip. They have their support system that works for them. You mean nothing. Let them be. If you want to support them go ahead but stop with the personal stuff that you know nothing about. Those two have been through so much and they are still TOGETHER. Get it? You may lead insicure lives but they don't. They know how to make things work. I'm so proud of them. Keep up the great work. I will always support you through thick or thin because that's what a true fan does.

Kristen Stewart is an extremely talented actress...for any dissenters who have said otherwise on the many hateful sites..they haven't seen her in "The Cakeaters". She was phenominal and gave a performance that not many in the industry today could duplicate.Never doubt her talent or her intelligence and her heart. She's head and shoulders above her peers and never sells her self short. I for one admire her tremendously.

I agree. I saw that movie. I give the movie a C, her performance an A. I don't know who else could have played Georgie as well as her. She was incredibly believable. That was an Oscar performance. Don't know anything about the business, don't know why she wasn't nominated for an Oscar, but she owned that performance.

I read the entire interview. It's a great interview considering it cover most of the topics people would like to know. I really like Kristen's insight. She's not just acting for the role, she put her heart and soul into this film. For that, I think it's worth to watch this movie.

I agree with you, after reading the entire interview. She seems to be very much aware of the personal and professional criticisms in her career and life and gives us insight to how she feels about it. She is clearly passionate about making art and not about fame and fortune. Many times, fame and fortune and power can overtake a person, and they can forget themselves along the way, forget what's most important in their lives, and things start to gradually fall apart for them personally. So I think she's on the right path and has a good head on her shoulders.

As for the upcoming Focus, I am excited for her to do a comedy (I always wanted to see her do a comedy considering most of her past roles have been the complete opposite), but I am not happy that Ben Afleck will star apposite her. He is not only unattractive with a giant head, but also a terrible actor, and I wish they found someone else to pair up with Kristen. Sorry, not sorry. Give me handsome actors like Ben Foster, Shane West, Joe Anderson, Jesse Eisenberg, not Afleck!!! Or what about her love Robert Pattinson! Yes, Robert and Kristen, can't wait for the day these two do a comedy together!!!

Having Ben Affleck play the role of a crafty con artist just doesn't fly. I can picture him as an accountant or a teacher but not in savvy roles such as this one. I hope they find somebody who will be a better match for Kristen. Somebody who can act!

Just being honest when I say, the first thought I had was, I hope Mr. Afleck doesn't have ideas of a bedroom romp with her. He is 40. Just putting it out there into the air. No judgements, just caution.

i know, i know. it seems a bit funny for her to sign onto this project seeing what the brief synopsis is. it's.. it's sort of serving the comparisons right there on a silver platter. my blunt, blunt, honest op on this one is that right now kristen is scrambling. despite some articles i read that said this summer's "events" might benefit her career as she's trying to transition to a more grown up career, i think it has kind of affected her careeer atm. it might be bc of this summer or twilight just ending and that she's a little overexposed right now, or a combination of both, but focus.. it just doesn't seem like a prime choice. idk, i kind of wish she'd pull a leonardo dicaprio and like disappear for a yr or two, like he did after titanic. but things are so different now, thhings moves a lot faster, and there are so many talented young actors .. idk, i think she needs something commercial, but smart and well written**, where she doesn't need to be the lead, but a strong supporting character that reminds people she CAN ACT, but also to show she's charismatic.

okay, now i'm jumping ahead like ten steps. everything seems lik the end of the world when you're young. *crossing my fingers* focus is terrific and perhaps a casting change?? ;)

anon 2:31am, I see where you're coming from. But I've come to realize that we need to stop worrying about her future choices and be confident that the past and painful events of the summer has no effect on her choosing future roles. She has said herself in this interview that she doesn't choose roles or try and shape her career based on the public's perception and expectation of her.

Her quotes in this interview:

"I can't pragmatically approach anything in terms of my career. I need to be so rocked by something, so moved by something that the idea of letting it down or ruining it is painful, and that's what gets you through the shoot. You read material and it provokes you on some level, and the reason you make the movie is to find out why it made you feel all those things. Those things are so rare to find that if you start also considering what people are going to think, you'll never make a movie."

"You should never step outside of your life and look at it like it's this malleable thing you can shape so that people view it a certain way."

.....although I still think Ben Affleck is not a good paring with Kristen. He is very unattractive, imo, they just don't look good together, ugghhh. Also, he will forever be that kid in the "Voyage of the Mimi" episodes that I was forced to watch as a kid in primary school. LOL :)

....Michael Jordan, the great basketball player, said something similar along the same lines in terms of his career: that he can't play the game based on people's expectations of him because that's just not realistic and every time he will fail, that all he can do is do the best he can to help his team win each game.

I think that On the Road is that project that is supposed to remind people that she can actually act. I also think that choosing to star with Ben Affleck isn't that bad of an idea. You can't get more commercial than Affleck, and its a comedy which would be something pretty different from her most recent work. It seems obvious that she is trying to stay busy. At first I thought she should disappear for a while too, but now I'm thinking she know what she's doing. I wish her all the best.